Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

kaptur · 2025-06-24 18:35:11

Hello everybody, this is my first post and i'm excited to be a part of this community.

To get straight to the point, i installed arch for the first time and i'm currently struggling with making my wlan usb card work. The chipset is RTL8188SU and the driver is RTL8192SU. I've found a driver on AUR, namely 8188eu-dkms-git. I've installed it, installed linux-headers and dkms also. Typing dkms status shows that the driver is added, but when i try to autoinstall it, it throws an error. The make.log contains this:

DKMS (dkms-3.2.1) make.log for 8188eu/5.2.2.4.r838.f42fc9c for kernel 6.15.2-arch1-1 (x86_64)
Tue Jun 24 07:51:50 PM CEST 2025

Building module(s)
# command: 'make' modules CONFIG_POWER_SAVING=n KVER=6.15.2-arch1-1 -j4
/bin/sh: line 1: bc: command not found
make ARCH=x86_64 CROSS_COMPILE= -C /lib/modules/6.15.2-arch1-1/build M=/var/lib/dkms/8188eu/5.2.2.4.r838.f42fc9c/build  modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/lib/modules/6.15.2-arch1-1/build'
make[2]: Entering directory '/var/lib/dkms/8188eu/5.2.2.4.r838.f42fc9c/build'
/bin/sh: line 1: bc: command not found
  CC [M]  rtw_cmd.o
  CC [M]  rtw_security.o
  CC [M]  rtw_debug.o
  CC [M]  rtw_io.o
rtw_cmd.c:6:10: fatal error: drv_types.h: No such file or directory
    6 | #include <drv_types.h>
      |          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
make[4]: *** [/usr/lib/modules/6.15.2-arch1-1/build/scripts/Makefile.build:203: rtw_cmd.o] Error 1
make[4]: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs....
rtw_security.c:6:10: fatal error: drv_types.h: No such file or directory
    6 | #include <drv_types.h>
      |          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
make[4]: *** [/usr/lib/modules/6.15.2-arch1-1/build/scripts/Makefile.build:203: rtw_security.o] Error 1
rtw_debug.c:6:10: fatal error: drv_types.h: No such file or directory
    6 | #include <drv_types.h>
      |          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
make[4]: *** [/usr/lib/modules/6.15.2-arch1-1/build/scripts/Makefile.build:203: rtw_debug.o] Error 1
rtw_io.c:27:10: fatal error: drv_types.h: No such file or directory
   27 | #include <drv_types.h>
      |          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
make[4]: *** [/usr/lib/modules/6.15.2-arch1-1/build/scripts/Makefile.build:203: rtw_io.o] Error 1
make[3]: *** [/usr/lib/modules/6.15.2-arch1-1/build/Makefile:2003: .] Error 2
make[2]: *** [/usr/lib/modules/6.15.2-arch1-1/build/Makefile:248: __sub-make] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory '/var/lib/dkms/8188eu/5.2.2.4.r838.f42fc9c/build'
make[1]: *** [Makefile:248: __sub-make] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/lib/modules/6.15.2-arch1-1/build'
make: *** [Makefile:418: modules] Error 2

# exit code: 2
# elapsed time: 00:00:01
----------------------------------------------------------------

Could anybody point me in the right direction? I've checked that the file drv_types.h is in /var/lib/... and /usr/src/..., but the make program seems to be searching it in /var/lib/... and /usr/lib/.... Is this the right behavior or did i configured something wrong?

SimonJ · 2025-06-24 19:24:46

It looks like the error is

/bin/sh: line 1: bc: command not found

What happens if you type

which bc

kaptur · 2025-06-24 19:34:24

The output is

no bc in (/usr/local/sbin:/ust/local/bin:/usr/bin:/ust/bin/site_perl:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl)

Last edited by kaptur (2025-06-24 19:34:44)

seth · 2025-06-24 19:36:17

https://aur.archlinux.org/account/2YgxWwR4
The rtl8xxxu module doesn't work for you? You do have linux-firmware-realtek installed?

Edit: https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/bc/ but still see the discussion on the aur page.

Last edited by seth (2025-06-24 19:37:25)

kaptur · 2025-06-24 20:06:56

I installed bc and the command not found error is gone, i have the linux-firmware-realtek package installed, the usb card is shown in lsusb btw.

If i run sudo dkms autoinstall it says

Failed command: 'make' modules CONFIG_POWER_SAVING=n KVER=6.15.2-arch1-1 -j4

Last edited by kaptur (2025-06-24 20:11:55)

seth · 2025-06-24 20:10:37

Is it shown in "ip l"?
Does rtl8xxxu load?

kaptur · 2025-06-24 20:16:47

The adapter isn't shown in ip l, i loaded rtl8xxxu with modprobe, but it still doesn't work

seth · 2025-06-24 20:31:27

Please post your complete system journal for the boot:

sudo journalctl -b | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st

Does the dkms module build against the LTS kernel as suggested in the AUR comments?

kaptur · 2025-06-24 20:34:15

It's late and i will continue tomorrow

kaptur · 2025-06-25 14:49:51

seth wrote:

Please post your complete system journal for the boot:
sudo journalctl -b | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st
Does the dkms module build against the LTS kernel as suggested in the AUR comments?

https://0x0.st/8l2M.txt
Should i install the LTS Kernel with headers and so on?

seth · 2025-06-25 15:29:19

Should i install the LTS Kernel with headers and so on?

Right now that's your best shot - the rtl8xxxu module doesn't pick up the chip and apparently the OOT module doesn't build on 6.15 - which might end up being a problem because lwfinger deceased pretty much a year ago

kaptur · 2025-06-25 16:19:25

Sorry to hear that. I will try to make it work.

kaptur · 2025-06-25 18:06:32

All right, with lts kernel the driver decided to work, at least it shows up in ip link, but i still need to figure out how to connect to the net.

Edit: actually the 8188eu-dkms driver still doesn't work, but it loaded automatically r8712u from the core repository

Last edited by kaptur (2025-06-25 18:15:55)

seth · 2025-06-25 21:26:17

r8712u from the core repository

Interesting, doesn't exist in the main kernel.
Can it operate the device?

ip l

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Networ … n/Wireless

8188eu-dkms driver still doesn't work

"Doesn't work" or "doesn't build"?
Did you try the -git version?

dkms status

kaptur · 2025-06-26 06:39:01

seth wrote:

Interesting, doesn't exist in the main kernel.
Can it operate the device?

I think it's a module from the linux-firmware-realtek package, but i'd have to check home. When i booted with Linux lts the r8712u module loaded automatically, the WLAN adapter started flashing, it shows up when i type ip link, but i need to configure it as per your link. When i load and remove the r8712u module with modprobe the adapter is detected so the driver works.

seth wrote:

"Doesn't work" or "doesn't build"?
Did you try the -git version?

It is the -git version from lwfinger, i forgot to add that. Dkms status says it's installed and i can load and remove it with modprobe no problem, but it doesn't "detect" the adapter (it doesn't show up on ip link and it doesn't flash).

So with the lts kernel the core repo driver loads automatically and works with the adapter, the 8188eu-dkms-git driver can be installed and loaded into the kernel, but it doesn't work with the adapter. Now i will try to configure the adapter with the core driver.

seth · 2025-06-26 06:55:05

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.13-Staging
r8712u was deliberately removed from 6.13 (and not moved out of staging) …

https://linux-hardware.org/?id=usb:0bda-8171
https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/rtl8192du-git
Despite the comments in the AUR, Larry actually patched the driver last year…

kaptur · 2025-06-27 15:03:57

I tried to makepkg the rtl8192du-git source files, but it depends on Linux 5.3, do i guess it is outdated. I tried also to work with the r8712u module that loads automatically, the adapter shows up in ip link and flashes, but when i type iw dev there are no devices. Any idea how would i go about that?

seth · 2025-06-27 17:25:07

It's a usb dongle? Are you emotionally attached to it?

Realistically: for now use the LTS kernel, make sure the 8188eu-dkms-git modules shows up as "installed" for the lts kernel in "dkms status", blacklist r8712u, see whether 8188eu loads and adds your device to "ip l"

The restriction for rtl8192du-git is only in the orphaned PKGBUILD - upstream saw patches for 6.8 and might still build if you loosen the PKGBUILD requirements

kaptur · 2025-06-27 19:50:03

Yes it's a dongle, i had it for like 10 years, but i'm not attached to it. I thought making it work would be a good way to learn how some of this stuff works as this is my first time on linux and somewhat tinkering with my computer. Anyway, thanks for the help, i'll try some more.

Arch Linux

#1 2025-06-24 18:35:11

Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#2 2025-06-24 19:24:46

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#3 2025-06-24 19:34:24

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#4 2025-06-24 19:36:17

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#5 2025-06-24 20:06:56

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#6 2025-06-24 20:10:37

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#7 2025-06-24 20:16:47

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#8 2025-06-24 20:31:27

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#9 2025-06-24 20:34:15

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#10 2025-06-25 14:49:51

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#11 2025-06-25 15:29:19

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#12 2025-06-25 16:19:25

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#13 2025-06-25 18:06:32

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#14 2025-06-25 21:26:17

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#15 2025-06-26 06:39:01

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#16 2025-06-26 06:55:05

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#17 2025-06-27 15:03:57

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#18 2025-06-27 17:25:07

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

#19 2025-06-27 19:50:03

Re: Installing wlan driver from AUR with dkms

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